Destructible tokens and meter system therefor



Oct. 5, 1965 D. L. STEVENSON ET AL 3,209,832

DESTRUCTIBLE TOKENS AND METER SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed April 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 INVENTOR.

Oct. 5, 1965 D. L. STEVENSON ETAL 3,209,882

DESTRUCTIBLE TOKENS AND METER SYSTEM THER Filed April 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,209,882 DESTRUCTIBLE TUKENS AND METER SYSTEM THEREFOR David L. Stevenson, 111 Fairglen Ave, Agincourt, 0n-

tario, Canada, and Philip R. tephenson, 82 Dorcot Ave., Scarborough, Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,841 5 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates generally to coin and token operated devices, and more particularly to an improved system of parking meter operation.

Parking meters in current use, although varying in design and mechanism, all depend upon the insertion of a coin or coins therein in order to operate their timing devices, such coins being retained within the body of the parking meter and removed therefrom by authorized collection personnel at specific intervals.

The disadvantages attendant upon these existing parking meters are many and serious. The coins required to operate the meters are the low denominational ones, such as the ten cent and five cent pieces, and quite often the aspiring parker discovers that he does not have such coins available. The demand for low denominational coins of this character has resulted in a permanent shortage thereof, such a shortage being acutely felt in certain areas.

Furthermore, the build-up of coins in currently used parking meters is a constant source of temptation to the criminal, particularly the juvenile, and often results in the damage or destruction of the meter during theft therefrom.

Again, with swelling volume of traffic, more meters are being required and used each succeeding year, the cost of regular collection therefrom, maintenance and damage repair and the like reaching in some cases, prohibitive proportions.

Additionally, most meters in current use are not particularly well adapted to prevent the use of slugs, counterfeit coins and the like.

A survey of the prior art in this field although disclosing numerous devices adapted for this purpose has not revealed a model or system free from the aforementioned disadvantages and limitations.

Having in mind, therefore, the need for an improved parking meter system and wishing to provide such a device, it is a main object of our invention to provide an improved meter which operates solely on keyed token insertion.

Another object of the instant invention seeks to provide an improved meter, referred to hereinafter as a token meter which eliminates the incidence of damage, theft and the like.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a token meter, the keyed token members used in conjunction therewith being rendered nonreusable after operating the timing mechanism.

Yet another object of this invention provides a keyed token meter, the token members used in conjunction therewith being rendered non-reusable by mechanical fracturing thereof and/ or chemical reduction thereof.

A further object of the instant invention lies in the provision of a token meter particularly well adapted for servicing by local merchants and the like.

A still further object of our invention provides a token meter, the keyed tokens of which are supplied with trace elements in order to combat counterfeiting thereof.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a token meter, the keyed tokens used therewith being readily receivable, whereas slugs and the like are rejected therefrom.

Still another object of our invention provides a token meter which will subsequently replace existing coin fed 3,269,882 Patented Get. 5, 1965 meters, the transitional period being achieved inexpensively by adaptation of such existing meters to the operable characteristics of my meter.

The aforementioned and various other pertinent objects and features of the instant invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed descriptions of parts and arrangements, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a token operated meter for use in combination with our destructible token.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged illustration of a destructible keyed token embodied in the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the keyed token illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmented sectionalized illustration of a token reception slot embodied in the invention and incorporating means whereby slugs or counterfeit tokens are rejected.

FIG. 5 is a further view of the token reception slot illustrated in FIG. 4 here shown with a. keyed token inserted therewithin.

FIG. 6 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a means whereby the token is mechanically fracture-d before being dropped into a solvent chamber embodied in the meter.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternative form of keyed token, here provided in strip form and embodying a multiplicity of individual tokens joined in longitudinal alignment.

Referring initially to FIGS. 2 and 3, a :destructible token indicated by the arrow 10 includes a low profile disc of a size substantially approximating that of the current ten cent piece.

Disc 10 is composed of a suitable plastic of frangible character and has formed upon each opposing face channels 11, channels 11 being formed in the manner of a cross, the arms of which intersect at the centre of disc 10, thereby providing quarter segments 12 on each of the said faces.

It will readily be apparent that disc 10 will be structurally weakened along channels 11 and that any force applied to disc 10 sufficient to fracture the body thereof will cause such a fracture to occur along one of channels 11.

Milling 13 formed on the faces of disc 10 is included as a deterent to counterfeiting of disc 10, milling 13 being but one measure adopted to achieve this end, others being detailed subsequently in the specification.

It is also proposed that disc 10 be treated in such a manner as to render it magnetically attractive, this being achieved by the simple expedient of impregnation with suitable metallic dust or granules sympathetic to magnetic impulses.

Further, during production of disc 10 a chemical trace element is to be included, the purpose of which will shortly be explained.

Referring now to FIG. 1 it will be appreciated that the essential mechanism of existing parking meters, the timing device and construction thereof, is not under revue, it being understood that the specific purpose of my invention is to provide a destructible token for use therewith. Therefore, the conventional operating mechanism of the parking meter is not required to be detailed herein, the additional features required by our invention being detailed only.

conventionally, the insertion of a coin within a meter slot 14 causes the coin to be located within a circular housing 15, a plurality of which are disposed in spaced apart relationship upon a central plate 16. Upon a coin being inserted, the time value of such a coin is registered on the meter, the action of the coin upon insertion thereof operating the meter timing mechanism and, concurrently, causing plate 16 to revolve through ninety degrees or one hundred and eighty degrees according to the time value of the coin inserted. (Direction of rotation indicated by arrow A.) As each coin is displaced from the lowermost housing 15a by the coin immediately preceding during a rotation of plate 16, it drops downwardly into a chamber housed within the body or column of the meter, there to await subsequent collection by a Serviceman/collector, each meter being periodically emptied of its accumulated coins.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that we have substituted a container 17 having a funnelled opening 13 at the upper end thereof, opening 18 being located directly subjacent the lowermost housing 15a and being adapted to receive the coin dropped therefrom. (It will be understood that the term coin is used in a general sense here, the specific item dropping into container 17 being our destructible token.)

It is suggested that container 17 be adapted for removal from the body of a parking meter, container 17 being substituted for the conventional collection chamber and being located within the area normally utilized for the housing thereof.

Container 17 is adapted to hold a quantity of chemical solvent 19 therewithin, solvent 19 being of such a composition as to dissolve the material of disc upon the said disc being deposited therein.

Referring now to FIG. 6 it will be seen that a token disc 10 located within lowermost housing a will, upon further rotation of plate 16 in the direction of arrow A, bear upon a cam member 20, cam 20 being located immediately adjacent and above the peripheral edge of plate 16. As token disc 10 projects outwardly from its housing 15 and as it is segmented in quarter sections, cam 20 will bear against a pertinent segment 12, applying pressure thereto in the direction of arrow D, thereby fracturing disc 10 along two of channels 11, this resulting in the breaking off of a segment 12, both broken off segment and main body of disc 10 dropping downwardly into container 17 and being dissolved by solvent 19.

It will readily be understood that either mechanical destruction or chemical reduction of disc 10 serves our intended purpose, both systems here being combined.

A trace element introduced to the body of disc 10 during manufacture thereof will enable spot checks to be taken by authorized personnel to guard against illegal duplication of the tokens.

We envisage our tokens as being supplied by vending machines, much in the manner of currently vended subway tokens, such vending machinery being serviced and maintained by local merchants having businesses in the immediate vicinity of the meters, the vending machines being capable of being taken in overnight by the pertinent merchant responsible therefor.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein we have shown a slug or counterfeit token rejection system to be used in combination with our destructible token, an arcuate lever 21 is pivotally retained at 22 within a chamber 23 formed in the body of a parking meter and immediately adjacent slot 14 thereof. Lever 21 has a rear stop section 24 and a magnetized front section 24a. A spring member 25 is located above lever 21 and adapted to bias the lever downwardly about pivot point 22 in such a manner as to cause stop section 24 to block slot 14 at its inner end while allowing partial insertion of a disc 10 therewithin in direction of arrow B. As disc 10 is impregnated with a magnetically sympathetic powder, insertion of the disc will cause magnetized section 24a of lever 21 to move theretowards, thereby pivoting lever 21 about pivot point 22 in the direction of arrow C.

A check peg 26 is adapted to arrest the movement of magnetized section 24a, just short of actual contact between the section and disc 10. As lever 21 pivots about pivot point 22, rear stop section 24 is lifted clear of slot 14, thereby allowing complete insertion of disc 10 therewithin and subsequent passage therethrough to a housing 15 as heretofore described. Thus upon a slug or counterfeit coin being inserted within slot 14 entry is checked by rear stop section 24 of lever 21.

Referring finally to FIG. 7 wherein is depicted an alternative form of keyed token generally designated by the arrow 30. A strip of material 31 is formed into a plurality of keyed tokens 32, each token comprising a rec tangular member joined at two opposite edges to its fellow members, the joint section 33 being of reduced thickness to allow for relatively easy fracturing or shearing after insertion within the intake slot of a meter. Such a shearing may be achieved either by manually applied torque or by the expedient of a simple guillotine of conventional character, such a guillotine being cocked by initial insertion of a keyed token member and tripped by complete insertion thereof, whereafter the heretofore described cycle of operations is effected.

It will readily be apparent that some modification of the token meter plate is necessary for adapting to the reception of rectangular tokens 32, the housings for the reception of tokens 32 having to be of a conforming rectangular configuration rather than semi-circular as found in existing meters.

Each of tokens 32 is provided with channels 34, channels 34 having a cross formation and being formed on both faces of the strip 31, thereby providing triangular segments 35 which will break off from the main body upon pressure being applied thereto as with disc tokens 10.

As an alternative to the chemical reduction of keyed tokens 10 and 32, it is suggested that they be discharged from the meter subsequent to their operation, such a discharge being effected through a suitable orifice formed in the body of the meter, the destroyed tokens being emptied out onto the sidewalk or in the gutter for disposal as garbage in the normal manner. By this method, the need for periodic emptying of the meter, either to remove mechanically fractured tokens or to re-charge the chemical medium, would be eliminated.

Although in this specification we have directed our description toward the use of our destructible token to parking meters only, we do not intend to limit their application to this specific field, the use thereof with numerous other forms of meters such as, for instance, gas, electric and the like being envisaged.

The general design of the individual parts of our invention as explained above may be varied according to the requirements of manufacture and production thereof while still remaining within the spirit and principle of this invention without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A destructible token and meter system therefor, including a keyed token; means for selective reception or rejection of said keyed token used with said meter system; mechanical fracturing means for said keyed token subsequent to its metering function; means for chemically dissolving said keyed token subsequent to the fracturing thereof; chemical trace elements incorporated in the body of said keyed token, said trace elements assisting in the prevention of counterfeiting thereof, said means for the selective reception or rejection of said token include an arcuate lever, said lever being pivotally retained within a chamber formed in the body of a meter, said chamber being immediately adjacent and in communication with the token reception slot of said meter; said lever having a rear stop section and a magnetized front section; a spring member, said spring member biasing said lever in such a manner as to locate said stop section within said reception slot thereby sealing the same; a check peg, said check peg limiting the pivotal movement of said lever; and the insertion of a magnetically sympathetic token causing said magnetized section to be attracted thereto, thereby overcoming said spring bias and causing said lever to pivot, said stop section being displaced from said reception slot and said token being capable of insertion therethrough.

2. A destructible token and meter system therefor, as defined in claim 1 in which said means for the mechanical fracturing of said token include a cam member, said cam member bearing against said token in such a manner as to break off a portion of said token thereby rendering the same non-reusable.

3. A destructible token and meter system therefor, as defined in claim 1 in which said means for the chemical reduction of said token include a container, said container having a funnelled opening located immediately subjacent the meter; a chemical solvent retained within said container and said disc token upon dropping into said solvent being dissolved thereby.

4. A destructible token and meter system therefor, as defined in claim 1 in which said token includes a circular disc, said disc having channels formed upon each opposing face thereof, said channels being formed in the manner of a cross, the arms of which intersect at the centre or said disc, thereby providing quarter segments on each of said faces; milling means formed on said faces of said disc; and said disc being impregnated With a magnetically sympathetic powder.

5. A destructible token and meter system therefor, as defined in claim 1 in which said token includes a rectangular member, each of said members being joined at two opposite edges to its flanking fellow members, the joining section being of reduced thickness to allow for relatively easy fracturing thereof; said members each having chan nels formed on both faces thereof, said channels being formed in the manner of a cross thereby providing triangular segments on each of said faces; and said members being impregnated With a magnetically sympathetic powder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,136,402 6/64 Smith l94-4 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DESTRUCTIBLE TOKEN AND METER SYSTEM THEREFOR, INCLUDING A KEYED TOKEN; MEANS FOR SELECTIVE RECEPTION OR REJECTION OF SAID KEYED TOKEN USED WITH SAID METER SYSTEM; MECHANICAL FRACTURING MEANS FOR SAID KEYED TOKEN SUBSEQUENT TO ITS METERING FUNCTION; MEANS FOR CHEMICALLY DISSOLVING SAID KEYED TOKEN SUBSEQUENT TO THE FRACTURING THEREOF; CHEMICAL TRACE ELEMENTS INCORPORATED IN THE BODY OF SAID KEYED TOKEN, SAID TRACE ELEMENTS ASSISTING IN THE PREVENTION OF COUNTERFEITING THEREOF, SAID MEANS FOR THE SELECTIVE RECEPTION OR REJECTION OF SAID TOKEN INCLUDE AN ARCUATE LEVER, SAID LEVER BEING PIVOTALLY RETAINED WITHIN A CHAMBER FORMED IN THE BODY OF A METER, SAID CHAMBER BEING IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOKEN RECEPTION SLOT OF SAID METER; SAID LEVER HAVING A REAR STOP SECTION AND A MAGNETIZED FRONT SECTION; A SPRING MEMBER, SAID SPRING MEMBER BIASING SAID LEVER IN SUCH A MANNER AD TO LOCATE SAID STOP SECTION WITHIN SAID RECEPTION SLOT THEREBY SEALING THE SAME; A CHECK PEG, SAID CHECK PEG LIMITING THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER; AND THE INSERTION OF A MAGNETICALLY SYMPATHETIC TOKEN CAUSING SAID MAGNETIZED SECTION TO BE ATTEACTED THERETO, THEREBY OVERCOMING SAID SPRING BIAS AND CAUSING SAID LEVER TO PIVOT, SAID STOP SECTION BEING DISPLACED FROM SAID RECEPTION SLOT AND SAID TOKEN BEING CAPABLE OF INSERTION THERETHROUGH. 